Google
has revealed its first prototype self-driving car and plans to build 100
of the vehicles for testing. It the first vehicle with no facility for human control over, other than a start and stop button. Photograph: Google/Rex Features

The Audi Quattro Sport Laserlight Concept stealing the show at the 2014 International CES in Las Vegas on 7 January 2014. Under the hood is Audi's zFAS system, the "brain" of the autonomous
vehicle. The small but complex system integrates a radar, video cameras, laser scanner, data from
the navigation system, and ultra-sonic data from the front and sides of
the car. Photograph: Joe Klamar/AFP/Getty Images

A Valeo representative swipes his finger across an iPhone to initiate a self parking demonstration at the 2014 CES. The car, a Range Rover Evoque with Valeo self-parking technology, is equipped with 12 ultrasonic sensors, six in the back and six in front, a laser scanner mounted in the grille, and four cameras. Photograph: Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images

A Lexus LS Integrated Safety self-driving car displayed at the Lexus booth during the 2013 CES. Lexus likens its robocar to a “co-pilot”, rather than a fully driverless car. Photograph: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Toyota Motor Co displays its prototype driverless car during the preview of 2013 CES. As with the Lexus, the emphasis is on assisting driver safety. The cars are equipped with a 360-degree laser with a range of 70 metres. This means that at
60 mph, it can locate stationary objects 3.2 seconds away. Photograph: The Asahi Shimbun/Getty Images

Ford's "Blueprint for Mobility" is a plan that describes what the automaker believes transportation will
look like in 2025, and the technologies, business models and
partnerships needed to get there. Photograph: Ford

Nissan's Autonomous Drive Leaf takes to the open roads in Japan. The drive took place in November 2013 with the modified Leaf entering the
Sagami Expressway, southwest of Yokohama, at 25 mph, before
driving at speeds of 50 mph. Photograph: Nissan

In 2010, the Audi TTS went up the winding 20km Pikes Peak mountain track in the Rocky Mountains, Colorado in 27 minutes, which was only 10 minutes longer than what a professional racing driver could have managed. Photograph: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian